The 6 most beautiful cycle routes in Italy inspired by the Giro

May is the month of the Giro d'Italia, a sporting event that crosses the beauty of our country and invites everyone to pedal on the most beautiful roads and cycle paths, from North to South. The Fiera del Cicloturismo recommends six itineraries inspired by the magic of the Giro and the iconic locations of some stages, which often allow you to explore the territory, transforming every kilometer pedaled into a personal experience between sport, local culture and sustainability. Each itinerary takes inspiration from a stage of the Giro, reinterpreting it in a cycle tourism key to experience the magic of the Corsa Rosa as protagonists, but at your own pace. From the hills to the coasts, from historic villages to panoramic roads, these routes tell the story of an Italy that lets itself be discovered slowly.

In Puglia, where the fourth stage of the Giro takes place, the Salento Ionico Cycle Route invites you to pedal along one of the most enchanting coastal stretches in Italy. From Manduria to Ugento, the route alternates golden beaches, pine forests and nature reserves. Cyclists can admire pink flamingos, expanses of centuries-old olive trees and crystal-clear waters. In addition to the natural beauty, the cycle route passes through villages rich in history and culture, with architecture ranging from medieval to baroque. To make the experience even more enjoyable, a network of bike-friendly facilities combines the hospitality of the area with services designed for cyclists, enhancing sustainability and zero-mile food and wine products. To support the route, a dedicated app is available that accompanies you along the itinerary, indicating points of interest, agritourisms and allowing you to monitor the progress of the trip in real time.

The Giro d'Italia crosses Basilicata with two stages (5 and 6) with a high scenic impact: Matera , with its Sassi suspended in time, and Potenza, gateway to the mountainous heart of the region. Matera and the Meridiana cycle path are the two cycling tourism proposals for everyone. The first allows you to follow by bike a ring that celebrates the beauty suspended between history and stone of the city of Sassi; the second starts from Potenza and crosses the Lucanian Appennine Park with a ring route of 295 km, which can be traveled in several stages or in two separate circuits: the 152 km Northern Ring and the 146 km Southern Ring. The route, designed to promote soft mobility, connects 22 villages and runs on secondary roads with little car traffic.

The tenth stage of the Giro is in Tuscany where the Puccini Cycle and Footpath is located, dedicated to the great composer. From Ponte a Moriano to Lake Massaciuccoli, the route allows you to discover the places of the Maestro immersed in the greenery of the Lucca area. The itinerary, just over 50 km long, is all flat and is equipped with assistance and e-bike charging points, drinking fountains and refreshment points; furthermore, the signs allow you to access, via QR code, the composer's music creating a soundtrack for the journey.

The Giro arrives in Veneto on the 14th stage, where the Treviso-Ostiglia Cycle Route follows the route of the former railway of the same name, built between the 1920s and 1930s but decommissioned after the Second World War. Safe and well signposted, it offers 85 km of flat road through countryside planted with corn, radicchio and asparagus, country churches, natural areas, villages and Palladian villas. There is no shortage of accommodation facilities, rest and refreshment areas, bike parks, bicycle rental points and services for cycle tourists. It is a route suitable for everyone, including families with children and, obviously, the most trained cycle tourists.

Continuing east you enter Friuli Venezia Giulia, where you cycle along the Ciclovia Pedemontana FVG3 , from Sacile to Gorizia, through hills, vineyards and authentic villages. It is also possible to travel along the roads that wind between Italy and Slovenia, between the hills of Collio and Brda, along the Isonzo river or among the symbolic places of the Great War.